Fuel atomizing spray device



Nov. 11, 1958 C. P. ORR

FUEL ATOMIZING SPRAY DEVICE Filed July 15, 1955 ATTORNEYS FUEL ATOMIZINGSPRAY DEVICE Charles Phillips Orr, Camden, N. J., assignor to SprayProducts Corporation, Camden, N. 1., a corporation of New JerseyApplication July 15, 1955, Serial No. 522,199

3 Claims. (Cl. 299-88) The present invention relates to the applicationof a special starting fluid to internal combustion engines and moreparticularly to a means of spraying a special starting fluid into theair intake.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a spraydevice for atomizing and injecting starting fluid into the air intakepassages of an internal combustion engine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spray device of thecharacter described which may-be sealed when not in use, to preventevaporation of the starting fluid.

A further object of this invention is to provide a spray device of thecharacter described with interchangeable spray reservoirs so that thespray mechanism may be changed from reservoir to reservoir as the sprayfluid is used.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a spray device ofthe character described with a sealing valve which can be operated byrotation of the spray bulb.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to assist instarting engines which have been subjected to extremely cold climaticconditions.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will becomemore apparent from a consideration of the following specification whenread in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the invention shown in spraying positionwith relation to an internal combustion air intake;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device partly broken away;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross section with parts broken away,taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of thearrows, and

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, reference numeralindicates generally the air intake of an internal combustion engine. Itshould be understood that the'term internal combustion engine usedthroughout this specification refers to both classes of engines, namely,those employing an electrical ignition system and those which are firedautomatically due to high compression. These engines are known in thetrade as gasoline engines and diesel engines.

Aspray can 11 is provided with a reduced neck portion 12 at the upperend thereof which terminates in an inwardly extending flange 13surrounding the opening 14. The spray can 11 is constructed with sealingbeads 15 at the top and bottom edges of the cylindrical portion of thecan.

A cap 16 of slightly larger diameter than the flanged portion 13 of thespray can 11 is provided with a depending flange 17 which isscrew-threaded as at 18 to engage the screw-threaded portion 19 of thecan 11. The bottom of the flange 17 of thecap 16 is reverted to form tesPatent 'ice outwardly under the cap 16, sealing the cap fitting 23air-tight to the cap 16. The cap fitting 23 is provided with a centralhollow area 26 and has depending from the lower face of the cap fitting23 a tubular extension 27 which supports the vertically depending tube27a that extends into the starting fluid in can 11 communicating withthe hollow area 26. The hollow area 26 serves as a temporary fuelstorage chamber for accumulating suflicient starting fluid from the tube27a for establishing an adequate supply head of fluid in fluid conduit39 for insuring continuous atomization at spray opening 43 of nozzle 41.A screw-threaded bore 28 extends through the side of the cap fitting 23with its axis in a generally horizontal plane. A second screw-threadedbore 29 of-a diameter somewhat smaller than the screwthreaded bore 28extends through the other side of the cap fitting 23 in axial alignmentwith the bore 28. Both of the bores 28 and 29 extendfrom the outside ofthe cap fitting 23 to the hollow area 26. An air bleeder port 30communicates with the bore 29 and the interior of the can 11 to permitthe passage of air therethrough.

An adapter fitting 31 is provided with an elongated tubular extension32'which is screw-threaded along its outer surface and is adapted to bethreaded into the bore 29. The body 23 at the side adjacent the here hasan inwardly tapered recess 23a which coacts with a tapered annularcomplementary surface 31a on fitting 31 forming a seal when the deviceis not in use. When a seal is established between recess 23a and surface31a the tubular extension 32 also'closes or seals port 30 preventingleakage of fluid from can 11. The adapter fitting 31 has a port 33extending longitudinally therethrough and is provided at its endopposite the tubular extension 32 with an outwardly extending flange 34.A flange 35 is positioned on said fitting 31 at a point spaced apartfrom the flange 34. The screw threaded portion of tubular extension 32is of such length that the fitting is maintained in position for sealingbody 23 against leakage when fitting 31 is backed off from body 23 in.

the threads of the threaded bore 29 sufficiently to uncover port 30 andprovide the recycling path for fluids through tube 27a, chamber 26 andport 30 back to the reservoir constituted by can 11, while bulb 37 isbeing repeatedly and successively compressed. That is to say, theexternal threads on the fitting 31 and the internal threads in the bore29 outwardly beyond the port 30 cover a lineal distance suflicient tomaintain the fitting 31 in position with respect to can 11 and in sealedrelation to the body 23. A flexible conduit 36 is adapted to engage overthe flange 34 with its end seated against the flange 35. An atomizerbulb 37 formed of flexible material is secured to the opposite end oftheflexible conduit 36. The atomizer bulb 37 is provided with anair-tight valve 38 to permit air to enter thebulb 37 after the bulb 37has been compressed.

A tubular fluid conduit 39, having one end thereof screw threaded as at40, is threaded into the bore 28 of the cap fitting 23 andextendsasubstantial distance longitudinally therefrom. The outer end ofthe fluid conduit 39 is provided with a fluid nozzle 41. The nozzle 41is recessed at 42 so as to permit the fluid conduit 39 to be insertedtherein, The outer end of the nozzle 41 is provided with a spray opening43 of substantially reduced diameter with the inner face of the sprayopening outwardly bevelled to form a valve seat 44 surrounding the sprayopening 43.

An air conduit 45 is seated within thebore 33 of the fitting 31 andextends coaxially with the fluid conduit 39. A-tubular valve member 46is provided with a bevelled valve face 47 which'is adapted to cooperatewith the valve seat 44 when the air conduit 45is completely containedwithin the fluid conduit 39. The outer face of the tubular valve 46 islongitudinally grooved as at 48 to permit fluid to pass therethrough toreach the spray opening 43.

In the use and operation of. the invention, the can 11 is filled with astarting fluid preferably having the following, properties:

Specificgravity 0.7

Flash point, -F 2O Ignition temperature, F 366 Auto ignitiontemperature, F:

Gasoline 495 Diesel #1 fuel 490 Diesel #2 fuel 494 Range ofinflammability in air Min. 2%-Max. 44%

Thespray opening 43 of the device is brought into close proximity withthe air-intake portion of an internal combustion engine which may be anormal opening found in the apparatus or a special opening formed forthe purpose. The atomizer bulb 37 is then revolved in a counterclockwisedirection, unscrewing the tubular extension 32 from the cap fitting 23which unseats the valve 47 from the valve face 44 and partially opensthe air bleeder opening'or port 30. Pressure is then applied totheatomizer bulb 37 which produces a flow of air through the air conduit45' which in turn by Venturi action draws starting fuel from the can 11,spraying it in an atomized form into the air intake of the engine.

A recycling path for the fluid is provided from the tube 27a throughstorage chamber 26 escaping through port 30 which is uncovered bytubular extension 32 andreturning to the reservoir constituted by can 11insuring a continuous supply of fluid in chamber 26 for deliverythroughfluid conduit 39 to the atomizingnozzle 41. l

The engine is simultaneously operated by a conventional starter tocreate a vacuum at the air intake, pulling the starting fluid into thecylinders thereof. When the engine has been started the adapter fitting31 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 3 in which tubularextension 32is; screw-threaded firmly into the bore 29 closing port 30and establishing a-sealed annular seat with cap fitting 23"as indicated,at 23a.

One of the chief advantages. of this invention is the portability of thecompletely sealed device. The can 11, sealed but ready for use, can becarried in the tool box or elsewhere in the vehicle, without creating afire hazard, so as to be available on the spot whenever difficultstarting occurs. It should be understood, of course, that additionalsealed reservoirs may be carriedfor attachment' to the spray when theoriginal reservoir is exhausted; With this invention there is nonecessity to carry a large container of starting fluid for refillingpurposes with the, attendant dangers of explosion or fire.

Large containers create a fire hazard and, hence, it is desirable tohave a container which can be immediately neck formed on the upper endof said reservoir, an in-" ternally threaded sleeve detachably engagedwith said' threaded neck, a cylindrical body, said body having aninternal central hollow area constituting a fuel storage chamber and anaxial bore extending from said chamber to the lower end of said body,said body having an annular recess formed in its lower edge portion, aradial flange on said sleeve engaging in said annular recess, a

tube mounted in said axial bore and extending into said reservoir, saidbody having a threaded bore extending from said chamber radiallyoutwardly through said body,

said body having a diametrically opposed axial aligned second threadedbore extending from said chamber" through said body, a port extendingfrom said first threaded bore through the lower end of said body inspaced relation and parallel to said axial bore, an adapter fittinghaving an axial bore provided with an externally threaded tubularextension detachably engageable in said first threaded bore, resilientpump means secured to said fitting and adapted to pump air through theaxial bore in said fitting, said threaded tubular extension cooperatingto close the open upper end of said port extending from said firstthreaded bore when said adapter fitting is fully advanced into saidbody, an elongated conduit having an externally threaded end detachablysupported in the second threaded bore in said body, a nozzle carried bythe end of said elongated conduit opposite said threaded end, a valveseat formed internally of said nozzle, and a second conduit having oneend thereof mounted in the axial bore in said fitting and having a valveface formed on its opposite end cooperating with the valve seat in saidnozzle with said second conduit concentrically positioned with relationto said elongated provided with a tapered annular sealing surface andwherein said adapter fitting has a complementary tapered surfaceproviding a sealing connection between said fitting and said body whilethe threaded tubular extension of said fitting closesthe port in saidfirst threaded bore.

3. A fuel atomizer for starting internal combustion engines as set forthin claim-1 in which the externally threaded tubular extension of saidfitting and the linearly threaded portion of said first threaded bore'outwardly beyond the port therein provides a suflicient intercoupledrelationship of the threads therein to' maintain said fitting in sealedrelation to said body and supported in respect thereto.

References Cited in'the' file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,545,102 Holmes July 7, 1925 2,213,522 Holmboe Sept. 3, 1940 2,730,093Neely Jam. 10, 1956"

